A Few Added Comments on Roy S. Fudge

Ron Halbrook

West Columbia, Texas

I have just read an advance copy of the article by Raymond Fudge regarding his father, Roy S. Fudge. With Mike Willis' permission, I would like to add a few comments.

When I was a young man growing up in Belle Glade, Florida, brother Roy S. Fudge preached for us. The liberals in the church found an occasion to call a business meeting while most conservative brethren were out of town and fired brother Fudge, giving him only a few days to vacate the preacher's house. He was fired because he opposed the institutional apostasy of the day and was not afraid to preach on it. I still remember how he spoke the truth in love. When the conservative brethren returned and found what had happened, they met with all the men and pled on the basis of compassion that brother Fudge be given a more reasonable time frame to move, since it was not possible to reverse the decision firing him. He had a wife and several children. If I remember right, the liberal element finally conceded to give him one month! Imagine such conduct in the name of promoting "benevolence!"

So far as I know, brother Fudge has continued to faith-fully preach the gospel through the years. Our paths have crossed from time to time. Bennie Lee Fudge was his brother. During the controversy with Bennie Lee's son, Edward, not only did Bennie Lee express to me and others his sorrow over the direction Ed was going, but also Roy never wavered in his loyalty to the truth and never defended Ed's errors. When I preached in a gospel meeting in Athens, Alabama a few months ago, some brethren were unhappy with my warnings about some dangerous trends during re-cent years, but brother Fudge drove from Pulaski, Tennessee to attend the meeting and to offer his support and encouragement with reference to such preaching.

I hope his move goes well and that he obtains adequate support.

Guardian of Truth XLI: 9 p. 5-6
April May 1, 1997